Chapter 1

When Jake entered college, he was a lean, active guy, having spent his high school years playing soccer and sticking to his mom’s healthy meals. But life at college was a different world—one filled with late-night pizza, endless dining hall buffets, and beer-fueled weekends.

It all started innocently enough. The first few weeks, Jake hit the gym sporadically, but his new friends always convinced him to grab burgers or hang out at the local diner instead. He thought, One cheat meal won’t hurt, and besides, he had a fast metabolism—or so he thought.

By mid-semester, Jake noticed his jeans fitting tighter around his waist. “Must’ve shrunk in the wash,” he joked, ignoring the fact that his shirts were beginning to hug his stomach a little too closely. His roommate, Derek, wasn’t shy about pointing it out. “Dude, are you gonna make it to the gym today, or are you ordering wings again?”

Jake laughed it off, but deep down, he knew he was slipping. Between 8 a.m. classes and late-night study sessions, it was just easier to grab snacks from the vending machine or inhale a greasy burger at 11 p.m. One night, during a Netflix binge with his friends, he polished off an entire large pizza by himself. His friends cheered, and Jake couldn’t help but feel proud—until he looked down at his stomach and realized it was no longer flat.

By the end of his freshman year, Jake had put on nearly 25 pounds. The lean, athletic frame he once had was now softer, and his old jeans were long gone, replaced by sweatpants and baggy hoodies. Surprisingly, Jake didn’t hate it. He loved the social aspect of eating with friends, and he had to admit he was enjoying food in a way he never had before.

Sophomore year came, and Jake fully leaned into his new lifestyle. He joined a beer league softball team—not for the exercise, but for the post-game trips to the pub. He started baking with his girlfriend, Emily, who loved experimenting with cookies and cakes. By the time spring rolled around, Jake was up another 15 pounds, tipping the scale at 210.

One day, as he struggled to button up his shirt for a formal event, Derek chuckled. “Man, you’ve really embraced the college lifestyle, huh?” Jake smirked and patted his belly. “Yeah, I guess I have. But hey, life’s too short to skip dessert, right?”

And with that, Jake headed to the buffet, ready to grab another plate. College was about more than just grades—it was about living life to the fullest, one bite at a time.